Gallup: Dems gallop in Cong. preference

After the “shellacking” they suffered in 2010, Democrats have moved back into a clear lead in Americans’ preference for who should represent them in Congress, according to a new Gallup Poll.

The poll found that 51 percent those surveyed would vote for a Democratic candidate if the election were held today, 44 percent for a Republican nominee, with the rest undecided or having no opinion.

“The seven percentage point edge for Democratic congressional candidates, nationally, contrasts with ties or Republican leads in most Gallup polls leading up to the midterm elections,” Gallup reported.

The Democrats’ edge is still far less than the party enjoyed leading into the 2006 and 2008 elections.

The poll was taken August 4-7 after Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. government’s credit rating, and after the prolonged, bruising Capitol Hill showdown over raising the debt ceiling.

Public approval of the Tea Party movement continues to fall sharply, according to Gallup. The venerable polling firm asked voters if Tea Party support would make them more or less likely to vote for a candidate for Congress.

Just 23 percent said “more likely,” 42 percent replied “less likely” with 30 percent saying it would make no difference. The “less likely” figure was sharply higher among Independent voters.